Teaching Excellence and Inspirational Leadership: Christine Nehring’s commitment to uplifting others shines through in multiple roles

For the first time, one individual is receiving both the Teaching Excellence and Inspirational Leadership awards at the University of the Fraser Valley’s annual employee excellence event.

In many ways, it’s fitting that Christine Nehring is the one being doubly honoured.

As a colleague and committee leader, she has many admirers for her leadership skills. As an instructor and program head, she is a highly regarded faculty member in the Applied Business Technology (ABT) program.

But she also exhibits leadership in her guidance of students from a wide variety of backgrounds looking to gain skills and knowledge to attain jobs in the modern office environment. And, she is a valued teacher to colleagues whom she mentors as they join the university or take on new roles or challenges.

Christine feels a real affinity with the ABT students. She thinks that her own educational and career journey helped her to be uniquely qualified to work with students in this six-month certificate program.

“Our students come from many walks of life,” she notes. “For some, it’s their first foray into post-secondary education. For others, they already have a degree, and/or they are looking to change careers after decades in the workforce. The common thread is that they are looking for a program that will give them the opportunity to find a meaningful career quickly. They are incredibly focused.”

Christine majored in music performance for her bachelor’s degree, with plans to be a professional oboe player. But she decided that a music career didn’t suit her.

“I asked myself ‘If not a musician, then who will I be?’” she recalls. Her aunt recommended pursuing a Master of Business Administration degree, and heeding that advice opened many career doors for her.

Christine worked in finance for a small non-profit, in marketing for CP Rail, and then as an English Language Arts study guide writer and editor, before joining a business consulting firm. She has always had an aptitude for teaching, and, during a career seminar, realized that post-secondary teaching would be a natural fit. Once she discovered the Applied Business Tech program and started teaching part-time, she knew she’d found her niche.

“Doing all these seemingly disparate jobs prepared me to teach everything that we offer in ABT,” she says. She brought her real-world experience in writing, finance, marketing, business consulting, and software development into the classroom and shared it enthusiastically.

But teaching in the ABT program is about more than covering the curriculum. Students complete a practicum, so building and maintaining relationships with employers is key. And the working world is constantly changing. The professors must keep up with industry trends and share them with students. It’s a short, cohort-based program with students who are often balancing many other life commitments.

“We help our students with more than course content. We teach them to network, to use their own unique backgrounds to connect with people. We really get to know them and then make suggestions about where they might succeed.”

Christine and her fellow faculty members keep up with the students after they graduate as well. She runs a robust Facebook group where successes are celebrated, and job tips shared. Often alumni end up opening the door for the latest batch of graduates.

“Most of us get to where we are in life and our career because of the support of other people. I feel strongly that my role is to be that support person for our students,” she says. “I am a constant cheerleader. Students can be so hard on themselves so I am always giving affirmation, telling them that they can do more than they think they can.”

In her non-teaching roles at UFV Christine is also focused on uplifting and inspiring others and modeling integrity. So much so that her colleagues nominated her for the Inspirational Leadership award.

“Christine’s ability to make sound and ethical decisions in complex situations has been a defining strength of her leadership across multiple roles,” noted Valerie Franklin of UFV Continuing Education, one of her nominators. “Christine doesn’t shy away from complex challenges; instead, she approaches them with a thoughtful mix of analytical thinking, collaborative spirit, and, always, a dedication to helping others learn and succeed.”

As Christine reflects on the fact that colleagues, students, and alumni collaborated to successfully nominate her for two awards, the word humbling comes to mind.

“I love what I do and give everything I can to the program because students deserve the best of me. To be nominated and selected for these awards is truly humbling.”

Photo album of Christine at UFV over the years